Photo By Sgt. Maj. Andrew Porch | Spc. Brianna Hunter, left, a native of Atlanta, and Lt. Kelsey Fincher, a native of...... read more read more
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KALISPEL INDIAN RESERVATION, Wash. – As most Soldiers this past Thursday prepared for their four-day weekend, in recognition of Labor Day, the Soldiers assigned to Task Force First Round, out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and Guardsmen assigned to the Washington Nation Guard, spent their time giving back to the community in between supporting wildfire suppression operations near the Kalispel Indian Reservation, Wash.
The firefighters suppressing the Kaniksu Complex Fire, which has been burning for almost three weeks and more than 26,000 acres, received support, over the weeks since, from an unlikely ally as approximately 340 Soldiers were dispatched to the area to help provide relief and on Sept. 3, a select few went above and beyond by visiting the local daycare.
“The interaction with the kids and the Soldiers today was awesome,” said Lisa Russell, director of the early learning childcare center, Camas Community Center. “The kids enjoyed the vehicles and enjoyed the reading. They were out there out there acting like the (Soldiers) were regular staff, even though they were in uniform. They were climbing on them, asking to be held, sitting in their laps and asking for pictures. It went really well.”
The Soldiers showed the children their vehicle, read books to them, answered questions and took photos as a way to let the community know they are people just like anyone else.
“The children were very energetic,” said Spc. Briana Hunter, a Soldier assigned to Task Force First Round. “They have a lot of questions for you and they look up to you. They really believe that we as Soldiers or firefighters are heroes. For the community, it gives the Soldiers that respect because they know we are coming outside of our normal duties to (suppress the fires).”
For the Guardsman, it is important to interact with the community and support them.
“For the Army National Guard, I think it is really crucial,” said Sgt. 1st Class Yasmin Bussepaul, a native of Yakima, Wash., and a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist assigned to 792nd Chemical Company, 420th Chemical Battalion, 96th Troop Command, Washington National Guard. “It tells our community that we are there for them; we haven’t forgotten them and we are being properly utilized.”
And for the community, the support the Army is providing almost cannot be put into words.
“For the Army to come out and support this community is huge because those fires ended up being just like two and a half miles from this reservation,” said Russell. “I know we weren’t a high priority because the structures weren’t threatened, but this is all the Kalispels have. It was a little scary and it was good the Army, really anybody, was brought in to help.”
While suppressing the wildfires is the main reason the Soldiers are here, they know taking a few hours out their day to meet with community is time well spent.
“It’s important because it helps them understand that we are here to help,” said Hunter. “Rather than just seeing us on the news, on TV, in a magazine or anything like that, they can actually see a person; a Soldiers face-to-face.”
Hunter, a native of Atlanta, also stated what she really wanted the community to take away from the engagement.
“We can be here to answer questions for them,” she said. “I think it really helps them understand we are people as well, and we are here to help.”
| Date Taken: | 09.04.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.05.2015 00:57 |
| Story ID: | 175348 |
| Location: | USK, WA, US |
| Hometown: | ATLANTA, GA, US |
| Hometown: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Hometown: | YAKIMA, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 99 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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